The Hokage Building, Hokage Office.
Dusk already hung outside the window; inside, the room was thick with smoke. Stacks of documents waited on the desk to be dealt with. Sandaime Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen set down his pipe, closed his eyes, and rubbed his throbbing temples.
"Getting old..."
He sighed, then deftly produced a crystal ball and cast the Toomegane no Jutsu. In the orb appeared a blurry, bespectacled blond figure. For a moment, the sight almost made the Sandaime think he had the wrong child. Only after widening his eyes and staring for several seconds did he confirm that this youth was indeed Naruto.
His hand trembled, nearly dropping the priceless crystal. What happened? In just a few days, Naruto had changed so drastically?
The Naruto in the crystal wasn't yelling and shouting as usual. Instead, he wore a blue training outfit, glasses perched on his nose, quietly reading a book. The setting sun gilded his blond hair, leaving the Sandaime dazed.
"Haa..."
The Sandaime exhaled a smoke ring.
"So alike."
It hadn't been so obvious before. But now, in both face and composed bearing, Naruto resembled Namikaze Minato far too closely.
"Is this the power of blood?"
The Sandaime muttered, a wave of indescribable guilt rising within. All along, because of the village's political games and to keep the Jinchuriki from falling into any one faction's hands he could only leave Naruto to grow up wild. He couldn't even allow anyone to get too close during the boy's early years. He had assumed Naruto would end up a mere prankster. After graduation, bonds with teammates would teach him love for the village, and on missions he would slowly mature into a fine Shinobi.
Yet the crystal now showed a youth more disciplined and outstanding than his peers. It made the Sandaime feel he himself had failed.
"Perhaps I should have paid him more attention, helped him become strong sooner..."
But the next instant, a doubt surfaced.
"Still... such a drastic change in temperament can't be natural. Was he influenced by someone or by the Kyuubi?"
The Sandaime took a deep draw from his pipe, his gaze turning profound.
Meanwhile, beneath the earth, Root headquarters.
Shimura Danzo sat in shadow, crushing a newly delivered scroll in his hand. Its contents detailed the major changes that had recently overtaken Naruto.
"Hmph."
With a cold snort, Danzo destroyed the scroll, a frigid light glinting in his single eye. Where the Sandaime saw sudden "maturity," Danzo saw only camouflage. A loud-mouthed Kyuubi brat was a toy easily manipulated. But if the monster learned to hide, to endure, to grow strong in silence, it would become a razor-sharp weapon one that could cut foes, yet just as easily cut its wielder.
"So you've learned to mask yourself..."
Danzo's fingers drummed on the armrest.
"Such cool composure is born for Root. Hiruzen is too soft. Power like the Kyuubi must rest in hands that truly know how to wield it. Weapons need no thoughts; from the start, Root should have instilled the correct will in him!"
...Naruto walked the intersection on his way home, glancing around uneasily. That odd sensation had returned. Though he could see nothing, he felt invisible eyes watching him from time to time. Ever since he began practicing the Breathing Technique, the feeling had grown sharper as his body's potential awakened.
"Surveillance?"
Naruto's heart tightened. In the past, he might have panicked or shouted at the air. Now he had grown smarter. Back home, curtains drawn, he quickly opened the interface and sent a private message in the forum.
Uzumaki Naruto: Teacher Aizen, I think someone's watching me. What should I do?
Ever since following Aizen's advice, Naruto had made a habit of asking him whenever uncertain. To him, Aizen was sharp-tongued yet wise, a mentor who never minded his status, asked for nothing, and simply guided him toward strength. It gave the love-starved Naruto a dependence almost like that for a father or elder brother. Gradually, he even changed how he addressed him Naruto began calling him "Teacher," and Aizen did not object.
The reply came quickly, calm as ever.
Aizen Sousuke: Panic is the mark of the weak. Since you resolved to change, being watched is inevitable.
Aizen Sousuke: Remember: they must see only what you wish them to see. Do not drop your act perform it more flawlessly, without a single slip.
Aizen Sousuke: When they test you, give them a plausible excuse then let them fill in the blanks themselves. People always prefer the answers they imagine.
Naruto pondered. An excuse they deduce themselves...
Knock, knock, knock.
A sudden rap at the door.
"Naruto, are you home?"
An aged, kindly voice sounded outside. Naruto's pupils shrank. The surveillance had barely ended and now the Sandaime appeared; clearly, it had been the Sandaime Hokage watching him. Though he didn't know why, he adjusted his expression, put on his usual smile, and opened the door.
"Grandpa Sandaime, what brings you here?"
Smiling, the Sandaime stepped inside and looked around. A tidy desk, clean floor, and on the table a cup of warm milk.
"Nothing much; just came to see you. I hear you've been doing wonderfully at the academy even Iruka-sensei can't stop praising you."
He sat down, asking casually, "Naruto, I'm curious: what made you want to change? You used to hate studying."
Naruto lowered his head, fingers rubbing the hem of his jacket, looking bashful. A moment later, he lifted his head and said earnestly:
"Because... I don't want to be a clown everyone laughs at anymore."
"Hmm?" The Sandaime blinked. "Clown?"
Naruto pointed at his new clothes.
"I used to think that if I kept pulling pranks and making noise, everyone would notice me. But then I realized they were just watching a circus monkey. So I started wondering: if I become as amazing as the Hokage, maybe people will like me?"
At this, he scratched his head shyly. "Besides, this outfit looks cooler, heh."
The words were half true, half false. He kept the core secret hidden: the system and everything about the forum. Aizen had warned him never to reveal the forum's existence always keep a trump card. So Naruto, following suit, even hid the system from Aizen himself.
Teacher Aizen said you can't trust anyone. So I can't tell even him about the system.
That was Naruto's own little cunning.
The Sandaime gazed into the boy's blue eyes; the last trace of doubt vanished. What a sincere child knowing shame and ambition now, with even a touch of youthful vanity. This was normal growth. Relieved, the Sandaime patted Naruto's head, the wrinkles at his eyes smoothing.
"Good boy. Work hard and people will see your light. If you need anything, just tell Grandpa Sandaime."
"I want to learn some Ninjutsu. What Iruka-sensei teaches is too simple."
Naruto's eyes lit up and he seized the chance at once. The Sandaime laughed heartily:
"Fine. Tomorrow I'll test your affinity, then teach you Ninjutsu."
After sending off the delighted Sandaime, Naruto shut the door and exhaled against it.
"Did I... actually fool him?"
He clutched his chest, feeling his heart about to leap out. Not just fear there was an unprecedented thrill.
As long as you give them a plausible lead, even the Hokage will believe the truth you weave...